Crews Fixing N.M. Track After Derailment

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, May 26, 2003

Crews worked Tuesday to repair railroad track ripped up by a 13-car derailment that forced the evacuation of about 80 homes because of possible chemical fumes.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe train derailed Monday afternoon at Laguna Pueblo, about 40 miles west of Albuquerque. No injuries were reported, but authorities ordered the evacuation after detecting what they believed were chemical fumes.

Two of the residents were treated for inhalation of an unknown substance, but all were back home by Tuesday morning, said Capt. Tim Baughman of the New Mexico State Police. Neither of the crew members was injured.

The 49-car train was carrying small amounts of hydrochloric acid and toluene, a solvent, but none spilled, said Lena Kent, a spokeswoman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

The derailed cars carried about 30 containers with various kinds of freight, Kent said.

State police, however, did not immediately know if there were any leaks of hazardous materials, Baughman said.

"There was some substance, but whatever it was wasn't all that bad," he said.

The cause of the derailment was under investigation.

The derailment caused delays for Amtrak rail passengers, including travelers who were taken by bus from Albuquerque to Los Angeles, Amtrak spokesman Dan Stessel said in Washington.